The closing of the Norampac pulp and paper mill in Red Rock, Ont., has left a workforce full of general labourers, heavy equipment operators and skilled tradespeople without jobs.

Some have returned to high school or enrolled in courses to upgrade their educations, while others are trying to find similar jobs nearby.

Red Rock is surrounded by dense forest. It sits on the shore of Lake Superior. (Photo courtesy township of Red Rock)

The Red Rock Job Action Centre opened in October 2005 to help the 100 employees let go when the company shut down one of the mills paper machines a month earlier.

The centre offers help with job search skills, computer training and counselling. Recruiters from companies in Alberta and the Ontario Provincial Police have also come to attract workers.

J.D. Brown, a part-time peer counsellor, said the most popular service is resumé and cover-letter assistance because "so many haven't had to do it in so long."

He said some people are looking at jobs in the western provinces but most hope to stay and work at the mills in the surrounding area. Common requests are for jobs in mining or heavy equipment operating.

"There's a comfort factor in the jobs you know," said Brown.

The job action centre itself is serving as an employment opportunity for former mill workers. Brown was an employee at Norampac and was cut in 2005 shutdown. He said all but one of the 11 workers at the centre had worked for the mill at some point.

Stuck with houses whose values have dropped

While the mill closure has caused people to contemplate leaving Red Rock, many have found the declining housing market has forced them to stay.

Bart Cates is one of the 10 Norampac tradesmen who have found jobs at the paper mill Terrace Bay, about 90 kilometres to the east. He makes the two-hour commute at the start of his work week and stays the week. During his time off, he drives home to spend time with his family.

His wife, Lisa Cates, says the family didn't have the option of moving. They bought a bigger home only three years earlier. To move would mean having to put the new home on the market when housing values have plummeted and buyers are scarce.

"We're not in a position to walk away," she said.

Many families are in a similar position. Workers have ranged widely for jobs, from 400 kilometres to the east in Sault Ste. Marie to Winnipeg, more than 600 kilometres to the west.

Meanwhile, their spouses and children wait at home to see whether the mill reopens. Some have left and are renting in the meantime while the house sits on the market.

In neighbouring Nipigon, Reeve Richard Harvey estimates that about 100 people left Red Rock after Norampac shut down — and that was before the sawmill fire. Nipigon has also seen a drop in real estate prices.

Laurie White, a real estate manager who works with clients in Red Rock and area, said the mill shutdowns have clearly hurt the market.

"It's obviously been affected. Everyone knows it's affected. Houses aren't selling as quickly as they used to," White said.

Different ideas for future industries

In the coffee shops and on the streets, the future of Red Rock is often a topic of discussion — with a number of different ideas for new industries being bandied about.

'We'd like to see the government issue funds to promote the area.… People from Thunder Bay don't know who we are, let alone southern Ontario.'

–Red Rock resident Lisa Cates

Doug Mowat, a former councillor, has a list of potential alternatives that includes trying to build Red Rock into a retirement community and further developing the marina and the walking trail for tourism.

He also believes Red Rock could become a bedroom community for people who live in Thunder Bay and want summer cottages.

He points out the town's spectacular natural surroundings. Nestled on the shores of Lake Superior, it is close to the 48-metre-deep Ouimet Canyon, the caves and bat colonies of Cavern Lake Nature Reserve, amethyst mines and the Nipigon River. There are lots of opportunities for hunters, anglers, birdwatchers, hikers and snowmobilers. (Red Rock lies along the Trans-Ontario Provincial Snowmobile trail.)

When Mowat was on council, the town looked into placing a hotel on the waterfront but the proposal fell through because the town couldn't secure the land from the milling company. Now that the mill has been idled, securing land may be easier.

Meanwhile, Lisa Cates thinks the town and its appeal to outdoors enthusiasts need to be promoted more heavily.

"We'd like to see the government issue funds to promote the area. People don't know where we are. People from Thunder Bay don't know who we are, let alone southern Ontario."

'Businesses are feeling the pinch'

The Nipigon Chamber of Commerce, which oversees both Nipigon and Red Rock, says business has declined in the area.

"Without a doubt, the businesses are feeling the pinch, although it's not as drastic as we thought it would be," said Michael Nitz, the president of the chamber.

He points out that most businesses are grocery stores, banks and other essential services.

The real damage may come in the summer months when fishing- and camping-related services reopen for the season. The tourists may still come, but business owners are wondering how many locals will still be in town — and how much disposable income they'll have to spend on recreation.

Nitz says the chamber is already looking into prospective opportunities like mining. Twenty minutes north of the town rests one of the biggest uranium deposits outside of Saskatchewan, and the price of uranium for use as an alternative energy source has skyrocketed in recent months.

The Road House bar and grill has closed its doors and displays a "for sale" sign in the windows. in Red Rock, Ont. (Sandi Krasowski/CP)

He says the ethanol industry also holds a lot of potential as Canada moves towards a target of 10-per-cent ethanol in gasoline by 2010. Most of the industry is located in the United States.

The Norampac mill could easily be converted into an ethanol refinery, Nitz says.

He also said that, while there are still problems with the plan and it would take at least five years to complete, Red Rock also has an edge in terms of location.

"The location's good, there's access to the highway, the marina and the wood. There's lots of skilled labourers in the area and many of them are third- or fourth-generation."

Harvey, Nipigon's reeve, also says he believes the locations of Red Rock and Nipigon are assets.

Nipigon is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway and on what Harvey said is often referred to as the "crossroads of Canada." Anyone travelling across the country by road must pass through Nipigon, and past Red Rock.

Harvey hopes the towns can entice more passersby to stop and take advantage of all that the communities have to offer visitors.

'Keep the thought and dream of Red Rock alive'

One thing that hasn't been affected by the mill closure is the annual Live from the Rock Folk Festival held in August. In its fifth year , the festival is a three-day event with more than 50 acts attracting close to 3,000 people.

Denise Krawczuk, the chairwoman of the festival, thinks this year's event will remind residents why Red Rock is a great place to live.

"It's important to keep the thought and dream of Red Rock alive. It's also exposing the area to more people, something the town needs right now."

In the end, the spirit of Red Rock and the determination of residents to find a way to stay is what might keep the town from disappearing.

Krawczuk moved to Red Rock 11 years ago and her husband has lived here all his life. She says they're not ready to leave.

"Ours will be the last house standing, we really want to keep Red Rock going," said Krawczuk. "To allow things to fall down in the community because the mill has closed, that's a disservice to the people who started this place."

Lisa Cates agrees, wholeheartedly.

"We need to concentrate on how to make this town viable: we can't let this become a ghost town," she said.

"It needs to be shown to the politicians in Ottawa that this wouldn't happen in Southern Ontario, why is it okay here?"

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